Respect The Ride
September 13, 2022
SEPTA has recently partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to launch a new smoke-free campaign. The new campaign “Respect the Ride” was created to discourage smoking on the system and promote good behavior.
Unfortunately, not all riders follow the rules which can ruin the experience for riders who do. It is important for us here at SEPTA to make sure all customers feel comfortable on the system.
When riding the system, we should remember to be considerate of our fellow riders. Exposure to secondhand smoke interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of having a heart attack, even if exposed for a short amount of time. Babies and children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to be sick more often with bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections than those that are not exposed to secondhand smoke.
To support this initiative, SEPTA has placed “Respect the Ride” signage on the system’s platforms to remind everyone that we all deserve a smoke-free ride.
Smoking or vaping on a platform or on a SEPTA vehicle can result in serious consequences such as receiving a ticket and a fine issued by SEPTA Transit police.
If there aren’t Transit Police on site and you notice someone breaking the rules, you can always utilize the Transit Watch App to report the problem anonymously and in a timely fashion.
The effect of smoking goes further than health and consideration of others. We all should be considerate of the earth as well. Did you know that cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of the world's litter, making up 25 to 50 percent of all trash collected from roads, railways, and streets. Even if you are not actively smoking on the platforms, it is still prohibited to litter and cigarette butts should be properly discarded before entering SEPTA property.
Lastly, if you or someone you know needs help quitting, you can call the national quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free and get access to free help and free medication.
Let’s look out for one another Philly and respect the ride.
